Youngest Generation Goes Back at AJA

Atlanta Jewish Academy preschoolers and first-, second- and third-graders went back in time to ancient Egypt, then baked their own matzah as some of the more than 2,500 children to participate in JCrafts’ Back to the Exodus program in the weeks leading up to Passover.

A mad scientist’s time machine took the children back to Egypt at the time of the Exodus to meet Moses, who told them G-d was sending him to instruct Pharaoh to “let My people go.” AJA pupils were delighted by the show, which incorporated their teachers as Jewish slaves and Egyptian overseers.

Then the children moved into the model matzah bakery. They examined wheat and ground the kernels into flour. JCrafts representative Eli Steinhauser demonstrated the special care needed to make matzah that is ritually approved for the seder, with complete separation of flour and water until the last possible moment.

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The children rolled the mixture into thin circles, puncturing it all over with a special tool, and had a great time working the dough. The rounds were quickly baked in a special oven, then the students snacked on their crispy, freshly baked matzah.

Photos courtesy of AJA